Challenges in implementing ICT to address Climate Change in developing economies with an experience of implementing sensors and wireless technologies in monitoring Glacier Lakes in Himalaya Bhushan Raj Shrestha, PhD, Nepal Research and Education Network ITU Telecom World 2009, Geneva, 5-9 October, 2009

 Experience of implementing sensors and wireless technologies in monitoring Glacier Lakes in Himalaya is the experience gained through the project developed for monitoring Imja Glacier Lake in high Himalayas of Nepal.  This a collaborative project of NARC/NARO Japan, Keio University Japan, Nepal Research and Education Network (NREN) Nepal, ICIMOD, DNPW Nepal and APAN-Japan.  This system is still in operation and can be accessed through.  This system is still in operation and can be accessed through

T he effect of climate change in the form of increase in temperature, change in monsoon cycle, heavy rainfall, floods and droughts have adverse effect in the limited livelihood options of the majority of people in developing nations.

 Vulnerable communities need strategies to cope and adapt with the changing environment.  ICT enables top-level decision makers to identify the vulnerable communities and develop national strategies for adaptation.  ICT enables community to develop strategies to cope and adapt the changing environment.

Glaciers are most sensitive to global temperature condition. Most glaciers in Nepal are undergoing rapid deglaciation: rate of glacial retreat ranges from several meters to 20m/year. Source: Melting Himalayas

Regular monitoring of glaciers and their associates not only help in preventing potential disaster from GLOF, it also helps in monitoring the trend of global warming.

Objective  Real time monitoring of Imja glacial lake as a pilot project.  Real time monitoring of Imja glacial lake as a pilot project  Establish early warning system to save villages from GLOF in down stream.  Establishing network infrastructure for researchers working in climate change worldwide.

Island (Imja) Peak Imja Glacier Imja Lake Mt. Everest Imja Glacial lake is a large lake on moraine with narrow outlet located at m altitude. It is formed by melted glaciers. Water level is rising, high risk of Glacial Lake Out-Burst and several villages downstream are on risk.

Imja Now and Then May, 2008

Technology Deployed Field Server : A sensor developed by National Agriculture Research Center (NARC), Japan Wi-Fi Internet through VSAT Web Server (Measurement & Device Control) Sensors (up to 24 channel) Sensors (up to 24 channel) (Air temp., humidity, Solar radiation, CO 2 (Air temp., humidity, Solar radiation, CO 2, Water level in Imja) IP Camera for picture and video IP Camera for picture and video Solar Cell Solar Cell FIELD SERVER

Wireless Network from Imja Lake to Namche Bazar – 4 days walk Wireless Network from Imja Lake to Namche Bazar – 4 days walk  Pangboche  Dingboche  Namche bazaar  Chhukung Ri  Kalapathar  Quangde  Tengboche  Loboche (Pyramid)  Phortse  Everest base camp  Imja lake  Khumbu Glacier Everest 25 Km

Lesson Learnt  Countries situated in Himalayan region are highly vulnerable to climate change  ICT is an appropriate technology to address Climate Change  The skill of available human resources within the developing nation are sufficient for establishing such system

 New development in wireless and sensor technologies, availability of broadband Internet connectivity are great opportunities for  developing efficient monitoring and early warning systems  creating knowledgebase for coping and adapting the changes due to climate change  national and international researchers outside the region to study on glaciers and its associates due to climate change in real time  local people or decision makers in developing nations to get real time advisory from experts and others for immediate action to be taken on disaster or any other natural events Lesson Learnt, Contd………..

Challenges in implementing ICT for climate change in developing nations Network Infrastructure – large pats of rural areas are not covered by existing infrastructure, private service providers have less priority to serve these areas. Creating own private network is still very expensive. Limited and expensive bandwidth cost for internet connectivity.

Power supply – need to depend on solar energy, high initial cost. Awareness - top level decision makers and ICT professionals are not aware of potentiality of ICT in Climate Change. Lack of activities to build the confidence of stakeholders about ICT in climate change. Affordability – devices and sensors to be used for ICT enable system for climate change is still very expensive and not affordable. Challenges in implementing ICT, Contd………..